CHAPTER 34: ACTING STRANGE P3
~34.3~
*****
“Thank you for the invitation, Kye,” Ranna said as she sat down. She had brought one of her babies with her, the little boy Kenji. Her daughter was napping, so she left her to sleep in the care of the maids. When they came inside, Rei was excited to see her baby cousin, and Ranna decided to let her look after him while they had tea.
Liliana sat cups of tea down for everyone. Kye, Sanae, Alethea, and Yami were at the table with Ranna. “Of course, Lady Ranna,” Liliana replied. She smiled and added, “Aliana is preparing snacks and will bring them out shortly.”
Ranna gave her a smile, and she headed back into the kitchen. She sipped her tea and then looked around the table at the other four. “Why the sudden invitation, if I may ask?”
“I want to talk about Zen,” Kye said.
“Given everything we’ve talked about separately among us, we decided it would be good to gather the five of us and try to figure it out,” Sanae added.
Yami grimaced and sipped her tea.
Ranna looked solemn. “I see.”
“Has anything happened since we last spoke?” Alethea asked, her eyes glued to the young mother.
Ranna hesitated to answer. She looked away. Before anyone could say anything to comfort her, her eyes fell on Yami, who looked dizzy. Sanae was already watching Yami before Ranna looked, and when she did, Kye and Alethea looked, too.
Yami was holding a hand to her head.
“Yami?” Kye asked.
“Umm...” Yami struggled to mutter even that. “I...”
Sanae instantly appeared next to her and held a hand to her head. “Slight fever. Nothing to worry about, but...”
Suddenly Yami clasped her hand over her mouth and Sanae whisked her away.
“Oh my,” Alethea said.
Kye’s eyes glowed silver as she scanned for Sanae and Yami. Sanae had taken her to the nearest bathroom. And she saw three souls, not two.
“Oh.”
“What do you see, love?”
“Heh.”
Alethea’s eyes widened, and she jumped up. She went to the same bathroom, and Sanae was taking care of the white-haired girl. “Yami?”
After a few minutes, Sanae sat Yami down on the toilet and cleaned her up. “How long since your last period?”
“Aneue... Uhm...” She fumbled her words for a moment before she managed to answer. “Two months.”
Sanae wrapped her in silver mana, but Alethea quickly took over. “Let me.”
Sanae nodded and switched places.
“But... Aneue...” Yami muttered.
“Yami, sweetie, I’ve got you,” Alethea said as she wrapped Yami in very bright and intense pink mana. She was using her Radiance. Yami immediately felt better.
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“Aya, I...” Yami had tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry. Thank you for that.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re not used to me acting as your doctor.”
“She’s better than me,” Sanae said. “Yami, I feel more comfortable having her heal you than me.”
“Okay, Aneue. I trust your judgment above all else.” Yami sat silently as Yami’s mana continued working. “Am I pregnant?”
“Yes,” Alethea answered without hesitation.
Yami smiled. “Aneue, would you mind asking Mom to come here?”
Sanae nodded and quickly sent Layla a message. She arrived in half a minute. “Yami, are you okay?”
Yami nodded. “Alethea’s magic is incredible.”
“My youngest is pregnant now, too.” Layla had a smile on her face and a tear in each eye.
Sanae smirked. “I thought I was your youngest.”
Layla playfully balled her hand and smacked the top of Sanae’s head. “You’re different. Besides, you’re a hundred years old, what do you mean?”
Sanae shrugged. “Technically, everyone in Elysium is different.”
“Uh huh, smartass.” Layla rolled her eyes, but quickly looked back at Yami. “How long?”
Yami smiled dryly, knowing exactly what Layla meant. “Two months since my last period, a week less for uh... you know.”
“I see.” Layla glanced at Alethea, who was already looking up at her. “May I trust her to you for now? I’m going to go tell my husband in person.”
“She’s in good hands,” Alethea said, “but you should stick around for a bit. We were discussing something that we planned to tell you about later. Since you’re here now...”
Her eyes narrowed. “Zen?”
“Yeah,” Sanae said. “Is Yami okay to come back to the table?”
“Medically speaking, yes,” Alethea answered. “Yami, do you feel okay?”
Yami nodded. “Yes. Thank you, Aya.”
“Alright. I’m taking us back.” Sanae snapped her fingers and the four of them appeared in the brunch room. Alethea quickly explained Yami’s situation, and everyone took a seat.
Without missing a beat, Liliana brought out another cup of tea for Layla, and Aliana brought out the snacks. The two returned to the kitchen for a moment to remove their aprons, then came back out and each stood behind either Kye or Sanae.
Sanae filled Layla in on what they were there for, then Ranna, having worked up the courage, said something that took them aback. “Since the first week of the first term, Zen has been different. Not entirely out of the ordinary, but he hasn’t held Ren or Kenji once. He’s barely spared them a look. He talks to me normally, but he’s never romantic anymore.”
The other five women around the table exchanged glances. Sanae and Kye were looking at each other as if holding a conversation, but neither said anything either verbally or telepathically.
Tears began to form in Ranna’s eyes as she continued. “Did I do something wrong? Did he fall out of love with me?”
“No, and not likely,” Kye said immediately.
“How can you be sure?”
Kye hesitated to answer, but did. “In every past life I’ve ever shared with him, he was always the same as he was up until... this.” She sighed. “He’s a straightforward person and very loyal to his loved ones.”
“And the way I’ve seen him look at you...” Sanae added. “It’s not normal. Something is going on. Perhaps a mental issue. I think we should consult with Hannah.” She eyed Layla and Alethea. “You two and her together would be ideal for that discussion.”
Layla was listening quietly, but her expression betrayed her worry. Yami noticed first and said, “Mom, I’ll go speak to him first.” She stood up. “Ranna, did you tell him where you are?”
She nodded. “I told him I was going to brunch with you all. But he didn’t seem interested. I’m not even sure that he heard me.”
“Okay.” Yami grimaced and readied herself. “I’m going to talk to him.” She looked at Aliana. “Would you please come with me? Stay hidden.”
Aliana nodded.
“Hold up,” Layla said. “You were just confirmed to be pregnant after a bout of morning sickness. Are you even well enough to do this?”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Yami replied with a nod. “Aya’s healing is incredible. I feel one hundred percent.”
Layla hesitated, but allowed it. “Very well.” She eyed Aliana, who nodded to her.
Ranna stood up and asked to go as well, “Please take me, too. I want to see how he reacts to someone else.”
“Are you absolutely certain?” Kye asked. “You may see a side of him that you aren’t prepared for.”
“In sickness and death!” Ranna replied. “He’s my husband, and I am worried about him.”
Kye gave Aliana a nod, and she cloaked herself and Ranna in her stealth magic. Then they followed Yami next door to Pendragon Palace.
Layla, Kye, Sanae, and Alethea exchanged glances, each worried about Zen, Ranna, and their babies.
“Ally, protect Yami and Ranna as if they were me,” Kye said.
“Of course, Princess.”
*****
Revision: 2024-11-6